World Health Day 2026: ‘Forever chemicals’ and falling trust raise new questions about drinking water safety

As the WHO marks World Health Day 2026 concerns about the safety of drinking water are intensifying, with growing scrutiny of contaminants that regulators are still struggling to fully control.

In the United States, public confidence is already shifting. According to the 2025 Consumer Insights Report from the Water Quality Association (WQA), 58% of households say they are concerned about the safety of their tap water.

Much of that concern centres on PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” along with other industrial pollutants and hormone-disrupting substances now detected in water systems worldwide. The chemsec.org website says 99 percent of all humans today have “PFAS chemicals in their blood”. In the United States, about drink tap water is contaminated by toxic ‘forever chemicals’ according to test data cited by the Washington-based Environmental Lobbying Group, EWG.

While regulatory standards are evolving, experts say they often lag behind emerging science. Water infrastructure in many regions is also under strain, adding further complexity to efforts to ensure consistent water quality.

Water plays a critical role in human health, supporting neurological function, immunity, and metabolic processes. As a result, even low-level, long-term exposure to contaminants is drawing increased attention from researchers and public health officials.

Companies such as Denver-based FloWater are responding to this shift in awareness by developing point-of-use solutions designed to give consumers greater control over the quality of the water they drink. FloWater’s Refill Stations use multi-stage filtration to reduce a wide range of contaminants, while also offering an alternative to single-use bottled water.

“People are starting to question the assumption that tap water is always safe,” said FloWater co-founder and CEO, Rich ‘Raz’ Razgaitis. “We’re seeing a shift toward solutions that provide more transparency, more control, and better quality at the point of use.”

FloWater systems are now installed across workplaces, schools, gyms, and hospitality venues throughout North America, reflecting growing demand for filtered drinking water in shared environments.

Razgaitis notes WHO has repeatedly emphasised that access to safe drinking water is a cornerstone of public health. However, as awareness of emerging contaminants increases, so too does pressure on regulators, utilities, and technology providers to respond more quickly and effectively.

“With public concern rising and standards tightening, the question is no longer whether water quality matters, but how it can be assured in practice,” said Razgaitis.